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In the event of a Medical Emergency (chest pains, loss of consciousness etc.) dial 999

Remote pacing and cardiac monitoring devices – SCAM

16th September 2016

We have received details of a particularly cruel phishing scam which is circulating at the moment and affecting people with remote pacing and cardiac monitoring devices.

A patient appears to have been the victim of an opportunistic phishing scam, and paid £167 over the telephone using his debit card to the caller.

The caller stated that his “box/equipment” was not working due to “Dust”. He was offered the opportunity to replace it and at the same time offered the option of purchasing either a five year warranty for £140 or lifetime warranty for £167. As the patient was due to have a routine remote check on his device by the Pacemaker clinic, the patient believed that the call was legitimate and therefore paid £167 to the caller. The patient and his partner were subsequently suspicious, so they called the Pacemaker clinic a few hours later to check if the problem had been fixed. The clinic explained it was not a call from the hospital or from the manufacturer of the equipment.

Clinics and device companies would never ask for personal details or charge for services.

Self Help

Ordering Repeat Prescriptions

INTRODUCING PRESCRIPTIONS ONLINE

In order to use Prescriptions Online, you will need a user name and password, which you must request from the surgery. Due to the nature of this service you, will be asked to collect your login details, in person and provide photographic ID (passport, driving licence etc.,).

Do not leave it until you run out. Please order your repeat medication well before you are due to run out, as it will take 48 hours to process your prescription request - excluding weekends and Bank Holidays. You can order a repeat prescription by using one of the following methods:

Telephone (01278 720 005) 10.00am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.00pm

In person or by post

By fax (01278 423 691)

By email prescription-desk.trmc@nhs.net *please note email is not a secure method so please check the email address carefully and make sure you give full details of name, date of birth, type and strength of medication required and contact number.

E.Prescribing

You may have already heard of e.prescribing (also known as electronic prescribing), but for those patients who are not familiar with the concept, here is a brief explanation of what is all about, alternatively go to http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/eps/patients/films/whatthismeans.

The new service lets the practice send your prescription electronically to the pharmacy you choose to get your medication or appliance from – without the need for paper in some cases. This means there is less need for people with repeat prescriptions to call at their GP practice to collect a prescription form.

How does the Electronic Prescription Service work?

At first, if you want your GP to send your prescription electronically, you must choose, or ‘nominate’, a place to receive your electronic prescriptions. This could be a pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor

Nomination works in a similar way to a prescription collection service where the pharmacy collects your prescription for you instead of you having to collect it from your GP practice.

The main difference with nomination is that your prescription will be sent electronically and you don’t have to nominate a place that is close to your GP practice. For example, you could choose to nominate a place that is convenient to where you live, work or shop.

When will I be able to start using the Electronic Prescription Service?

From 21st July 2015.

Does using nomination mean I will see my GP less often?

No, it just means that you may not have to call at your GP practice just to collect a prescription.

I use my paper prescription to request my next repeat prescription issue. How can I do this if I don’t receive a paper copy?

As electronic prescriptions are used more and more, GP practices may start offering different ways to order repeat prescriptions that will not require a paper copy of the prescription. However, if you do require a paper copy, simply ask for one when you collect your medication or appliance and the pharmacy will be able to give this to you.

Do I need to be able to use a computer to use the Electronic Prescription Service?

No. The people who provide your prescription and medication will be using a computer.

Can I nominate a chain of pharmacies or dispensing appliance contractors?

You can only nominate a specific location to receive your electronic prescriptions.

Can I choose for my prescription not to be sent using the Electronic Prescription Service?

Yes, but if you decide not to use it, you won’t be able to use nomination. This means you will need to continue to make arrangements to collect your paper prescription from your GP practice.

Collecting Your Prescription

NB. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you have signed up for prescriptions to be sent to a pharmacy of your choice you must allow 3 days before it can be collected.

If not - Routine prescriptions are ready for collection at TRMC as follows:

Ordered

Ready for collection

Monday before 4.00pmTuesday before 4.00pm

Wednesday before 4.00pmThursday before 4.00pmFriday before 4.00pmSaturday/Sunday before 4.00pm

Wednesday after 2.00pmThursday after 2.00pmFriday after 2.00pmMonday after 2.00pmTuesday after 2.00pmWednesday after 2.00pm

Emergency Prescriptions

Emergency prescriptions should only be requested if you have run out of important medication and you are unable to wait until the next day. It will be up to the GP to decide if he/she will issue an emergency prescription.

*An emergency prescription, if issued, will be ready for collection after 9am the next morning (excluding Saturdays and Sundays). Emergency Prescriptions must be collected from the Reception desk even if your prescription usually goes to a named chemist.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

From 1 April 2017, the charges are:

Prescription (per item) £8.80

12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £104.00

3-month PPC: £29.10

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 13 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC. The charge for a single prescription item is 8.20 whereas a three month PPC will cost you £29.10 and a 12 month PPC £104.00.